Sierra Vista Farmers Market Vendor Update for 6-17-2021 – –

A Day in the Life Of – The Sierra Vista Farmers’ Market

By Uncle Ralph (Wildermuth) 16 June 2021

When is a plant not a plant? Short answer is when scientists change their minds. Now, for the real scoop.
Plato’s progeny, a Greek by the name of Aristotle (384BC to 322BC), was the first person to explore the organization of living things. Plato believed the world as people perceived it was nothing but a shadowy and incomplete version of the truth. Aristotle, on the other hand believed that we could only learn the truth by observation, analysis, and classification.
Since ancient times, living organisms have been lumped into two classes of being: animals and plants. There is no one founder of this concept since it has many founders between the time of Aristotle and Carolus Linnaeus (1707 to 1778) often dubbed the father of modern taxonomy. Linnaeus published his classification system in a book titled Systema Naturae with the two living kingdom classifications and a third kingdom for minerals.

As science matured and more discoveries were made, along with the ever-improving technological advances, it became harder to fit everything into a two-kingdom classification system. For example, the invention of the microscope, brought tiny organisms into the picture had never been seen before. Some of them even looked like little green plants except for one problem… they moved. This created a problem for classification. By the accepted thinking of the two-kingdom system: animals included every living thing that moved, ate, and grew to a certain size and stopped growing and plants didn’t. Plants included every living thing that did not move or eat and that continued to grow throughout life. Aristotle’s 2000-year-old division no longer worked, so a change was made.

Along comes ecologist Robert H. Whittaker (1920 to 1980). In 1969, Whitaker proposed two new kingdoms: Fungi and Prokaryotae (Bacteria). So up until 1969 a “Schroom” was a plant and now it has a new home. It is a “Fungi”. Most people don’t think about the relationship.
Terry Noland an unknown musician coined a phrase and is used more often in a negative way. It was “There’s a fungus among us.” In a positive way, it is probably one of the most accurate phrases to describe fungi in real life. Fungi are intimately linked to our lives and livelihoods. They affect our health, food, industry and agriculture in both positive and negative ways. For example, imagine the image of a bustling city during rush hour. The place is packed with people, cars and trucks going every which way. Now pretend you are looking at this city under a microscope. This picture will give you an idea of what the microbiome looks like inside each and every one of us. This microbiome, consisting of trillions of microorganisms, made up of thousands of different species. There are bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, just to name a few. These “bugs” coexist peacefully, most of them in the small and large intestines but also throughout the body. They all play so many key roles in promoting the smooth daily operations of the human body.

You may be unaware of this, but humans are more closely related to fungi than to any other kingdom. There are essential chemicals in mushrooms that have been present in our diet for so long that our bodies are now addicted to them and depend on them for life. Mushrooms, specifically, Shitake mushrooms improve immunity and in ways that no drug currently available can mimic. They are anti-inflammatory, help prevent respiratory infections, alter gut bacteria for the better, boost longevity, cancer fighting and many more.

A mushroom is the fruit of a fungus. But the visible fruit is only a small part of what’s there. A German forester, Peter Wohlleben, coined the term “the wood wide network” to describe the vast, interconnected network of mycelial strands and tree roots beneath the forest floor. This network allows the individual plants to transfer water, nitrogen, carbon, and other nutrients to other plants on the network. Older trees, for example, can transfer nutrients to saplings that aren’t tall enough to get adequate sunlight to produce their own.

An Ecologist, Susan Simard, takes these thoughts a little further and hypothesizes that the fungus takes a percentage of photosynthesized sugar as a sort of “payment” for transfer services. Plants can communicate with each other through this network. According to Paul Stamets, a mycologist, our future may ride on using the mycelial network created by mushrooms to venture across space and time. In 2016, the writers of Star Trek Discovery called Dr. Stamets and said they were stuck. He talked to them about the Mycelium Spore Drive which he called the” internet of nature”. He said this would allow a ship to go into hyperspace immediately by tapping into the mycelial archetype. He thereby created the new propulsion system used in Star Trek Discovery. Many concepts in the shows are based off actual science such as the warp drive. This was conceived by Mexican theoretical physicist, Miguel Alcubierre. NASA is currently still studying this concept. Maybe Dr. Stamets is right and space travel to other planets is just a mycelial away.

To begin your journey into the future, start right here at the Farmers’ Market. Visit the Allred Family Fungi and talk to Phillip Allred about the fascinating world of mushrooms. Then take some home and enjoy!

The Allred Family Fungi booth has been at the market for about six months now, but Phillip has been dabbling in growing mushrooms for the past two years. Phillip splits his time between being a fireman at the Fry Fire Department with growing his mushrooms in a specially built room in his garage. He also adds time to be a father and a husband. He named his favorite mushroom to grow, (a variety of oyster mushroom native to Arizona) he calls the TCR, after his daughter and her friend who found the mushroom growing while on a camping trip.
Phillip grows around ten to 12 different seasonal varieties both for summer and for the cooler times, utilizing organic growing methods.

He got started in mushrooms as an interest, doing research on them and then discovering the health benefits to go with them. He says the research showed him that 18 grams of mushrooms a day could reduce the chance of cancer by 45%. He is enthusiastic about all the health benefits of mushrooms from feeding the gut biome to boosting the body’s immunity.
He grows the mushrooms from a sterilized block made of wood pellets and organic wheat brand, called a microbag, a substrate for the mushrooms to eat. Once they start fruiting, he moves them into the fruiting room and changes the environment to support the fruiting process. From start to finish for most of the products he grows is about a 60-day process. Some mushrooms, such as the shitake, can take up to three to four months to grow. At the moment he has about 160 substrate bags in various stages of growth. Growing mushrooms is a different concept from growing plants. Everything has to be controlled from humidity and temperature to the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air. The humidity is almost raining at between 88 and 95 percent.
He sells the mushrooms by the ounce and he also sells the growing blocks, if you want one, through a special-order process. He also offers a discount if you purchase a pound of mushrooms or more. If you have a favorite mushroom, you would like him to grow for you, just ask. If he can, he will.

Looking for a nutritional and medicinal boost as well as some good tasting fungus, stop by Allred Family Fungi and take a pound home for the dinner meal.

Don’t forget Dad this weekend. It is Father’s Day this Sunday June 20^th.

As always, many of the market vendors accept WIC Farmers Markets & Senior Farmers Markets Vouchers in exchange for fresh fruits and vegetables. SNAP vouchers can be also used at some of the vendors booths. You can use your EBT card at the info booth for SNAP vouchers and Double UP tokens (unlimited amount right now).

We are looking forward to seeing you all at this coming week’s Market. For more information on all our vendors and the products they will be bringing, please see this week’s Farmers’ Market newsletter at www.sierravistafarmersmarkets.com.  Also, check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sierravistafarmersmarket/.

School is out for summer!  San Pedro Kiwanis members invite kids of all ages to join us this week for a children’s activity! 

Vendor Updates
Please see the vendor listings below with updated vendor information and the products they will be bringing.  Please keep in mind the social distancing while you shop at the market.

Market Hours: Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm at Veteran’s Memorial Park.

SNAP and Double UP food bucks available at the info booth.

NOTE: Pick up free Herald Review newspaper at the info booth.

Music Entertainment: Rick Hernandez

New: Julie & Sammy’s 33 Flavors Ice Cream

BASA is a volunteer board non-profit with a mission: “to promote local, sustainable food production, marketing and education in southern Arizona.

Webpage: http://basamesquite.org/
Webblog: http://bajaaz.blogspot.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/125627894978189
Email: brownchristie1@gmail.com

Updated Vendor Listing & Contact Information

– – Vendor Grown – –
Agricultural and Produce Vendors with the – – Vendor Grown – – seal are known to grow at least 85% of the products they sell.
– – Vendor Brokered – –
Agricultural and Produce Vendors with the – – Vendor Brokered – – seal do not grow a majority of the produce they sell and are known to purchase  a majority of their products from third parties.

Produce & Plant Vendors

Allred Family Fungi – – Vendor Grown –
Oyster mushrooms and other varieties.

Backyard Gardening & Growing  – – Vendor Grown –
Onions are available. Red, white, and yellow. Kohlrabi, beets, and turnips. Apricots and Okra.
Fresh Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables
Herb and flower plants.

Beatty’s Orchard – – Vendor Grown –
Edith will NOT be at the market
For more information please visit one of their links: Website
520-378-2728 or 520-678-9443

Echoing Hope Ranch – – Vendor Grown –
Variety of greens and herbs from their green house.
Kale, radishes, lettuce and more.

Horton’s Farm  – – Vendor Grown –
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Just A Pinch – – Vendor Grown –
They still have fresh-cut herbs available, but due to the pandemic still in effect, they will be limiting what they bring to farmer-selected,
pre-portioned herbs and custom orders made through phone (520-234-3254), email (justapinchllc@yahoo.com),
or in person at the market the week before!  This week’s selection of fresh harvested herbs are Strawberry Mint,
Chocolate Mint, and Italian Oregano for $1.00 per bundle!

The Lettuce Man’s Daughter – – Vendor Grown –
Donna will NOT be at the market this week.
Salad mix, red and green leaf lettuce, spinach, kale, and young bok choi

SAS-Z Nuts – – Vendor Grown –
Locally Grown Pistachios
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Sivonn’s Garden – – Vendor Grown –
Fresh Seasonal Garden Produce such as mushrooms, salad mix, collards.

Tawin’s Gardens and Crafts – – Vendor Grown –

Seasonal Garden Plants

Triple J & R – – Vendor Grown –

“We are a family providing homegrown microgreens and sprouts. We carry a varied selection of microgreens and sprouts grown hydroponically on food safe screens using only pH balanced water and food grade nutrients for microgreen growth. If you don’t see one you like just let us know and we will grow it for you. Email us at triplej&r@arizonaremountstation.net or give us a call at (520) 266-2479. Our Website is arizonaremountstation.net.”

Meat, Milk, & Honey Vendors

Emu Enterprise – – Vendor Grown –

Roger will NOT be at the market.
For more information please contact Roger at: 520-585-6148 or email:
circlet@juno.com for orders

Golden Rule Dairy – – Vendor Grown – –
NEW: Homemade butter.
Fresh Raw Milk, Cream, and Dairy Products and their yummy granola.
Golden Rule Dairy Special eggs will be available in July and August.
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
Instagram-  golden_rule_dairy
goldenruledairy@gmail.com
www.goldenruledairy.com
520-210-2857

L&B Farm

Frozen chicken and lamb, fresh eggs

Papa Mike‘s Jerky 
Locally Made Jerky
For more information please visit one of their links: Website Facebook

San Ysidro Farm – – Vendor Grown – -,
Jackie will NOT be at the market (every first Thursday) with beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey and frozen pasties.
email jackie.syf@gmail.com
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Sky Island/47 Ranch – – Vendor Grown – –

Dennis and Flavie will NOT be at the market this week.

We are taking orders for quarter, half or whole beef. Come stock up on some meat because we will be sold out by this week, and will be forced to take a two weeks break because of our challenges with our processing.
Butcher’s mistakes special!!! $2 off/lbs

– Italian sausage: 3.07# package

– Bratwurst: 1.68# package

– Green Chile cheese bratwurst: 5.65# package

Locally Raised Range fed Criollo Beef, and Navajo Churro Lamb.
All natural, no hormones, no antibiotics, and no grain feeding.
Wild caught sockeye salmon from Naknek Fisheries, Bristol Bay, Alaska.
Apple or Mesquite smoked bacon from Willcox Packing House (uncured bacon, nitrites, and nitrates free), pork chorizo, and pork sausage.
Homemade Cowboy Style Peanut butter (made with slightly-roasted organic peanuts, no salt or sugar added).
YouTube Channel (Ranching in the Right Hemisphere): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrfx3NWeUSGZ7KOnV8XL4tQ

For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook and YouTube

520-507-5203
crossu@vtc.net

Simmons Honey Ranchito 

Our many varieties of local honey will be available in one pound jars up to one gallon jugs.
520-364-2745, no text, no call id
520-368-2039 text welcome
simmonshoney1@powerc.net

Baked Goods & Snack Vendors

Designs by Copper Canyon
New: Gluten-free breads.
Delicious truffles and sweet & savory breads.
Home decor items.
coppercanyonind@gmail.com

Ginny’s Eclectic Kitchen
Chocolate molasses cookies, cheesy sourdough, frozen soups.

 Cafe Cultiva’s cold brew coffee and coffee beans.

Celestial Breads
Fresh Baked Goods and Prepared Foods
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

5 Nut Granola by Better Than Provisions
Better Than Provisions 5 Nut Granola is a nutrient dense, grain-free, sugar-free granola made with a premium 5 nut blend (macadamia, almond, pecan, walnut, and hazelnut) plus organic pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, and spices. It suits a variety of dietary preferences including keto, paleo, vegan, gluten-free, low-carb, dairy-free, and diabetic. Available in 3 flavors.
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, facebook

Farmer’s Daughter
Cassandra will NOT be at the market during the hot season, but
for orders call 623-523-7367.
Gluten free baked goods

Incredible Snacks
An Incredible Variety of Snacks
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Katerina’s-It’s Original Greek
Fresh Made Greek Baked Goods and Prepared Food
New: Artisan Greek breads.

McDonald Farm
Baked goods such as cinnamon rolls, pies, and nut bars. Fresh eggs, pecans, beans (black, pinto, 9-bean mix), chicken and duck eggs.
SAS-Z-Nuts pistachios
Leave a message for Dona 520-220-3000

Steph’s Sweets Bakery
Stephanie will NOT be at the market (every 1st Thursday)
Granola, cookies, muffins (all vegan)
Desert Bloom Photography &  Ray’s Leatherworks 520-368-2454

Sweet Arizona
Locally made Toffee, Brittle, & Fudge
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
www.sweetarizona.org
520-312-5351

Sweets By Shelly
Cake pops in a wide variety of flavors, almost too pretty to eat, but oh so yummy.
Toffee and pretzels.
308-708-1680 for special or custom orders.
Shelly will NOT be at the market for the hot summer months.

Personal Health & Household Vendors

Ancestral Herbals
Hand made soap, lotion, balm, muscle rub, etc.
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Desert Oasis Soap
Home made Soaps
For more information please visit one of their links:Website, Facebook
desertoasissoap@outlook.com
520-822-5330
desertoasissoaps.com

Nature’s Premium Skin Care
Aloe Vera miracle cream

Prepared Foods & Beverage Vendors

Big Woody’s
Hot Dogs, Mac & Cheese, BBQ, and Pulled Pork
For more information & their menu please visit one of their links: Facebook

Bombshell Sweets
Variety of cotton candy

Café Cultiva
Jessica will NOT be at the market  this week, but Ginny will have her coffee beans and cold brew at Ginny’s Eclectic Kitchen available>
Fresh Coffee and Hot Beverages
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
774-316-2328

Cliff’s Salsa
Cliff will NOT be at the market this week.
Pickles, and jalapenos and salsa

Esperanza
Pre-order tamales by calling 520-954-7782
New: Pasties
Fresh made Tortillas, Tamales, Baked Goods
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
Esperanza will ship orders.

Crazy Coyote Concessions
Kettle Corn and Smoothies
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook
734-430-1996

Mi Burrito
Burritos from the grill with fresh salsa for lunch.

Lazy KJ Ranch
Locally Grown Organic Pork for lunch specials.
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook

Lasagna and More
Complete line of Take-n-Bakes, sauces, Chef Burritos, SW Spice Blend
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook

Mulcogi

Spices and herb mixes.

Queen Ceviche
Fresh Made Salsa, Ceviche, Hand Sanitizer, and  hibiscus syrup.
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook
520-904-4715

Wild Arizona Gardens
Mushrooms (pink, Italian, and pearl oyster), key lime pie, selection of artisan breads, salsa, hummus, tabouli, naan, pesto, honey oat bread, jalapeno cheddar bread, olive oil and rosemary bread, foccacia, and bird seed wreaths

Pet Food & Product Vendors

Maggie’s Dog Treats & Accessories
All Natural Pet Snacks and Treats
For more information please visit one of their links:
480-488-1053
ziabischoff@gmail.com

Services

Hone Ranger
Scott has temporarily lost the ability to sharpen on site, but is still sharpening remotely. Come by the market or call 366-1815.

Lindsay
Handmade fitted masks.
520-546-1058
meyerwill@cox.net

In Stitches
Variety of face masks

 
Artisan Vendors (are back)

Greenstone Pottery & Crafts
Hand Made Pottery, Jewelry, & Crafts
For more information please visit one of their links: Facebook
520-537-4859
courage.4life4u@gmail.com
530-539-4859
greenstone.collection@gmail.com

Thunder Mountain Alpaca Ranch
Alpaca boutique of Unique Hand Made Gifts
For more information please visit one of their links: Website, Facebook
520-249-0362

Bernie & Bill Medley
Paintings, Custom Frames and Woodwork
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.
For more information please visit one of their links:

Promise Farm LLC & Ash’s Amber
Baltic Amber jewelry
Chicken eggs and small plants.

Migrant Shelter Workshop Carpentry
Furniture from their introductory carpentry school and bird feeders

Sue’s Closet
Sue will be at the market on the first Thursday.
Tie-dye and painted clothing (hats, silk scarves, shawls, blouses)

Rita Obenauf’s Windchimes
Every 1st Thursday
Up-cycle bottle wind chimes
909-957-0368
Insta-gram Lifeabove100

Inner G Cells
Handmade orgonite item (includes jewelry)

Quails Qrafts
Tie-dye clothing (onesies, t-shirts, masks, scrunchies, pants)

Artisan Vendors (soon to return)

Jim Williams Woodworks

Checkerboards and many new lazy Susans,  one of a kind, all sizes of cutting boards, pens, pencils, fountain pens!  Key rings, toaster tongs, oven rack pulls.  By a special request, I have started making urns and jewelry boxes.

520-393-6608
weloveaz2@gmail.com

Blue Oak Builders and Sierra Vista Gems
New batch of bolt action pens made with Mexican blue oak. Cheri has made more of her color changing beads and hand painted front license plates.
520-508-1958

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